In a spaceship drifting aimlessly through the starry expanse, a tall woman with blonde hair and blue eyes sat lazily in the pilot’s seat, legs crossed, smoking a cigarette.
Beep.
The cockpit door opened, and without turning around, the woman asked, “Still no sign of the boss?”
A freckled boy stepped inside with a cheeky grin. “Nope. That person’s been glued to him—won’t take a single step away.”
“Speaking of, that person’s really gorgeous. I’ve never seen such a stunning Omega…”
“Shhh, you’d better not let the boss hear you say that,” the blonde woman teased as she blew a smoke ring. “Or he’ll probably toss you out the airlock.”
The boy shrugged. “Nah, the boss wouldn’t do that. Without me, who’s gonna fix the ship?”
With excitement, he continued, “Did you see how the boss took down that S-class? That was so awesome. That guy acted so high and mighty at first, but he didn’t last long before he fell flat. Just goes to show, even an S-class isn’t all that.”
The woman grinned. “It’s not that S-classes aren’t a big deal—it’s that our boss is on another level. He put them in their place with ease.”
The boy was about to reply when he noticed several red dots flashing on the lower-left corner of the central screen. They were closing in fast.
“Uh-oh! Looks like we’ve got pursuers!”
“Damn it, can’t they just leave us alone!” The woman immediately sat upright. “Engage Warp Level Four and get us to the nearest jump point! Lose them!”
The ship accelerated sharply. On a bedside table in the crew quarters, a communication device lit up momentarily, displaying a brief message.
Chu Shiye glanced at it from the corner of his eye, but only for a split second before returning his full attention to the figure in front of him.
Lying quietly in the bed was a pale and beautiful young man, wrapped snugly in soft blankets. The edges were carefully tucked in, leaving no gaps.
The room’s temperature was perfectly regulated, and the ship’s windows were sealed tight, keeping the space warm and draft-free.
Still, Chu Shiye couldn’t shake his concern. He checked the edges of the blanket repeatedly and kept his gaze locked on the person in front of him, unwilling to look away even for a moment.
He looked thinner.
The progress Ji Mian had made in recovering before was undone, and now he was even more emaciated.
His face lacked color, and his whole demeanor seemed frail.
Chu Shiye’s eyes darkened, and the more he thought about it, the more his heart ached.
He wanted to hold him.
Time and again, Chu Shiye reached out, yearning to pull Ji Mian into his arms, to cradle him like the most precious thing in the world. But he held back, afraid of disturbing Ji Mian’s rest.
So, he sat quietly at the bedside, watching over him.
When Ji Mian woke up, the soft clothing against his skin and the comfort of the bed beneath him told him he was finally in a safe place.
His wounds had been healed, leaving only a faint ache from the mental overexertion, but it didn’t matter.
The moment his eyes opened, he felt someone leaning over and wrapping him in a tight embrace.
A warm, solid weight pressed against him—along with a familiar scent.
The person held him close, burying their face deep in his shoulder. Their strong arms trembled ever so slightly.
Sensing Chu Shiye’s subtle trembling, Ji Mian raised his hand and gently patted the Alpha’s back twice.
“Long time no see,” he said, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly with a smile. “I’m back.”
The clear and soothing tone of his voice hung in the air, as if no time had passed since they were last together.
Chu Shiye slowly lifted his head, meeting Ji Mian’s smiling gaze.
So beautiful.
This person, right here, by his side.
Chu Shiye couldn’t resist leaning in closer, their foreheads touching gently as he silently looked into Ji Mian’s eyes.
After a moment, he nuzzled Ji Mian lightly, then did it again.
This warmth—he cherished it deeply. It was like a wild beast that had wandered for days finally finding its own little den. Amid the joy and relief, there was a trace of vulnerability, almost like a sense of grievance.
Ji Mian thought, He looks a bit pitiful.
Like an abandoned puppy.
He reached out and ruffled Chu Shiye’s hair.
Chu Shiye froze for a moment, then lowered his head, his gaze softening.
He loved that gesture.
It reassured him that Ji Mian was truly, tangibly back by his side.
As Ji Mian continued to stroke the Alpha’s head, he began to examine him closely. Testing the waters, he asked, “Are you okay? After we got separated… did you get hurt badly?”
Chu Shiye immediately replied, “No. I was lucky… I didn’t get hurt.”
“And you?”
Ji Mian spread his hands. “As you can see, I’m fine too.”
Even if he hadn’t been fine, now that he was with this Alpha, he felt as though he was.
Chu Shiye wasn’t entirely convinced.
He could tell that Ji Mian had endured great hardship after their separation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t still look so unwell.
I should’ve found him sooner. Sooner.
Lowering his head in regret, Chu Shiye suddenly thought of something. Awkwardly, he asked, “Are you hungry? Do you need water? I can go get—”
“No, I don’t want anything right now,” Ji Mian interrupted, tugging at Chu Shiye’s hand. “Stay here. Let me look at you.”
Chu Shiye immediately froze, obediently staying put.
Still holding Ji Mian.
Ji Mian gazed into his eyes.
Upon waking, Ji Mian had noticed that Chu Shiye’s aura had changed.
This Alpha, once like a sheathed dagger, now carried a sharper, more commanding presence.
Now, after just a short period of separation, Chu Shiye had transformed into an unsheathed blade, sharp and radiant.
Those once dark brown eyes had inexplicably turned into a light gold hue.
The faint golden color gleamed in his gaze, like the first rays of a rising sun breaking over the horizon.
Ji Mian raised his hand, his fingertips lightly tracing Chu Shiye’s brows and eyes.
Chu Shiye’s body trembled slightly at the touch, unable to hold back as he softly spoke, “Ah Mian.”
Ji Mian replied, “Mm.”
Then he smiled and asked, “How do you know my real name?”
Chu Shiye stared at him. “I guessed.”
Ji Mian had told him—only him—that his real name wasn’t “Su Lan.”
He had also mentioned that he came from the capital star.
The capital star of the Federation, a place synonymous with power and prestige, was where Ji Mian’s name had once caused a massive stir. The rumors had reached even Chu Shiye.
Ji Mian.
The once S-class auxiliary ability user, who had fallen to B-class for unknown reasons, severed ties with the Ji family, and, according to the news, was killed during an attack while leaving the capital star.
Yet now, that same person had been found again, this time prepared to enter an arranged marriage with the Suoya family.
Marriage.
Chu Shiye lowered his head, burying his face into Ji Mian’s hair without saying a word.
He had almost lost him. The person in his arms had almost ended up belonging to someone else.
Sensing the Alpha’s somber mood, Ji Mian gently stroked his head, offering comfort. “Then, how did you manage to save me?”
“I encountered a team of interstellar mercenaries on my way,” Chu Shiye replied in a muffled voice. “They had been attacked by star pirates. I happened to pass by and stepped in to help.”
“So, they pledged to follow me.”
Chu Shiye had known that if he wanted to take Ji Mian back from the hands of the Ji family or the Suoya family, it wouldn’t be possible alone.
At the very least, he needed a spaceship, something to ensure he and Ji Mian could escape safely after he got him back.
Ji Mian teased, “Wow, you’re amazing. You’ve got your own forces now.”
Before Chu Shiye could respond, Ji Mian chuckled lightly, as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. “I knew it. You’d be fine.”
“And I knew you’d find me.”
A faint light glimmered in Chu Shiye’s eyes. “Mm.”
Ji Mian continued, “After you took me away, what was the Ji family and Suoya family’s response?”
Chu Shiye paused for a moment before answering, “I don’t know.”
“After I got you out, we just ran.”
To be more accurate, it was an escape.
After defeating Jose in front of everyone, nobody on the planet dared to act. Chu Shiye had carried Ji Mian back to the spaceship, staying just long enough to ensure they could leave safely.
After all, he had only one ship, and the most pressing matter was to keep Ji Mian away from their grasp.
Thankfully, they hadn’t succeeded.
The arm Chu Shiye had wrapped around Ji Mian’s waist tightened.
Ji Mian patted the Alpha reassuringly. He knew that by now, Ji Tingyan was likely in a state of utter chaos.
He had torn down all pretenses, humiliated the Suoya family in public, and completely disrupted the arranged marriage. The Suoya family, humiliated and unable to retaliate against him, would undoubtedly redirect their fury toward Ji Tingyan.
Given the Ji family’s current standing, any deliberate suppression by the Suoya family would leave them in dire straits.
But the Ji family’s predicament had nothing to do with him anymore.
Ji Mian raised his head, asking the question that had been on his mind: “How is E-13 Star?”
Chu Shiye fell silent for a few seconds before answering, “The port wasn’t damaged. The attack was targeted at us.”
“Other ships were caught in the crossfire and crashed. There were some casualties,” Chu Shiye paused briefly, “but most of the people survived.”
After hearing this, the weight in Ji Mian’s heart didn’t lift. His voice lowered slightly. “I’m sorry. Maybe I dragged you all into this.”
Before the words fully left his lips, Chu Shiye interrupted, “Don’t say that.”
Ji Mian looked up at him.
Chu Shiye softened his tone. “It wasn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Ji Mian met his gaze, and after a moment, he smiled faintly. “Thank you.”
After a brief pause, Ji Mian added, “We need to find out more about the Relief Society. Otherwise, something like this will happen again.”
Chu Shiye responded firmly, “Yes.”
Ji Mian: “For now, don’t worry about the Ji family. They still have to deal with the Suoya family—they won’t have an easy time.”
When “the Ji family” was mentioned, Chu Shiye’s gaze turned noticeably colder: “Were they bad to you?”
Ji Mian didn’t answer, merely stating, “I have nothing to do with them anymore.”
Chu Shiye looked at him, his expression softening slightly.
“Then…” A few seconds passed before he cautiously asked, “Can you come with me?”
Ji Mian met his gaze directly. “To where?”
Chu Shiye thought for a moment. “I don’t know yet. All I have right now is this spaceship and…”
He sneaked a glance at Ji Mian.
Ji Mian misunderstood the look, smiling faintly. “Are you thinking about becoming a star mercenary?”
Star mercenaries referred to skilled individuals drifting through the galaxy without a fixed home, taking on various interstellar commissions to earn rewards, gain fame, or amass power. Over the years, star mercenaries had grown into a sizable force, even establishing their own Mercenary Guild, which maintained neutrality between the Federation and the Empire.
When Ji Mian had first left the capital star, he’d briefly considered whether to join the Mercenary Guild. But before he could decide, he was ambushed and ended up crashing onto E-13.
Chu Shiye: “That could work too.”
“Whatever you want to do, I’ll do it with you.”
“Is that so?” Ji Mian smiled faintly. “But the things I want to do… there are quite a lot.”
“I want Ji Tingyan to pay for what he’s done. I want to find out who attacked me back then and uncover the forces behind the Relief Society.”
Chu Shiye: “Okay.”
He didn’t care how difficult those things might be. Without hesitation, he simply replied, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Ji Mian’s eyes curved into a soft smile as he gently patted the Alpha.
Chu Shiye, lowering his head silently, leaned in closer, rubbing against Ji Mian’s shoulder.
Snuggle, snuggle.
Ji Mian’s gaze dropped slightly, observing him.
One of Chu Shiye’s arms encircled Ji Mian’s waist, while the other pressed against his back, locking him tightly in his embrace. The position left Ji Mian firmly secured in his arms.
Since their reunion, this Alpha seemed even… more clingy than before.
Noticing Ji Mian’s gaze on him, Chu Shiye—who was still lightly nuzzling him—shifted slightly.
And hugged him even tighter.
Tightly, snugly, completely holding him, as if he were a dragon hoarding its most treasured jewel, unwilling to let go even a little.
Ji Mian blinked.
Chu Shiye met his gaze and thought to himself: *Will he catch a chill?*
He reached over to pull the blanket closer, carefully and gently wrapping Ji Mian bit by bit until the soft blanket covered half of his face.
Then, holding this little bundle of Ji Mian in his arms, he bent his head down and resumed lightly rubbing his face against Ji Mian’s cheek.
*Mine.*
Snuggle, snuggle.
R : eating dog food
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